February 17th, 2025 I celebrated my birthday, feeling deeply loved and grateful to Allah for the precious gift of life and the loved ones surrounding me.
However, the joy of the day was bittersweet when I learned about the tragic Felele truck accident. The news left a sour taste in my heart and stirred mixed emotions.
The irony of life struck me profoundly while I was celebrating the blessing of life, others had tragically lost theirs. Kullu nafsin zaikatul maut, indeed, every soul shall taste death.
The ongoing tragedies in Felele demand urgent attention from all of us.
These fatal accidents, which are often avoidable, must come to an end. Human life is invaluable and sacred, and it is our collective responsibility to address this issue with intention and urgency.
A few years ago, I issued an advisory regarding the number of speed bumps on the Crusher-Felele-Nataco expressway. This advisory was prompted by the government’s efforts to reduce the frequent accidents, particularly those involving trucks, which often result in loss of lives and property.
To address this, the government installed over 30 speed bumps space less than 100 meters apart along the less-than-8-kilometer stretch of the Crusher-Felele-Nataco road. While this measure was intended to slow down vehicles and reduce accidents, it has proven more effective for cars than for trucks and heavy-duty vehicle, the very vehicles responsible for most crashes and fatalities.
To understand why these speed bumps are counterproductive for trucks, let’s consider some basic physics principles: Momentum Force, Friction, and Thermal Expansion. Here’s a simplified explanation of these concepts:
• Momentum Force: The force present in a moving object.
• Friction: A force that resists the motion between two surfaces in contact.
• Thermal Expansion: The expansion of materials as they heat up.
These principles, combined with the topography of the Crusher-Felele-Nataco expressway and the placement of speed bumps, contribute significantly to the recurring accidents.
The stretch of the expressway from Crusher to Nataco is downhill, with the steepest slope occurring between the NNPC fuel station and Wada Motor Park. This section alone has about 10 speed bumps, and the total number of bumps from Crusher to Felele exceeds 20. It’s no coincidence that most fatal crashes occur in this area.
The high number of speed bumps, coupled with the downhill slope, creates a dangerous situation for trucks.
When a loaded truck travels downhill, it is heavily influenced by Momentum Force. The weight of the load pushes the truck forward, making it harder to control. For example, it’s easier to stop an empty wheelbarrow rolling downhill than one that’s fully loaded. This same principle applies to trucks: the heavier the load, the greater the strain on the braking system.
Trucks rely on friction to slow down or stop, using the brake pads or linings press against brake drums or discs principles to reduce speed. However, many trucks in Nigeria still use outdated drum brake systems, which are prone to overheating due to friction. As the brakes heat up, thermal expansion occurs, reducing their effectiveness and often leading to brake failure.
Here’s the critical issue: From Crusher, where traffic is light, truck drivers must repeatedly apply their brakes to navigate the closely spaced speed bumps. By the time they reach the steepest and busiest section near Felele, the brakes are often overheated and ineffective. This is why most accidents occur in this area. In contrast, accidents are rare on the opposite lane (uphill) because trucks don’t need to rely heavily on their brakes.
While the speed bumps were installed with good intentions, they have inadvertently made the road more dangerous for trucks. A re-evaluation of this approach is necessary to prevent further loss of life. We must prioritize solutions that address this unique challenge:
1. The government should implement and strictly enforce regulations on truck load thresholds to prevent overloading, which is a major contributor to accidents.
2. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should revise its strategies to ensure trucks are properly maintained and roadworthy, reducing the risk of mechanical failures.
3. Remove or reduce the number of speed bumps between Crusher and Felele, retaining only essential ones, such as near the Federal University main gate and other critical areas.
4. Dualize and expand the Felele expressway and install a runaway truck ramp to enhance safety.
5. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) should restart public sensitization campaigns to educate truck drivers and road users on highway safety practices.
Thoughts of – Umar Dan’Assabe Muhammed Cornelius – Public Affairs Analyst and Commentator.
Umarmuhammed27@yahoo.com